The Red House (1947) User Reviews (113)

off kilter, effective thriller

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 20 August 2007]

Edward G. Robinson doesn't want his adopted daughter to go near "The Red House" in this 1947 film which also stars Judith Anderson, Lon McAllister, Allene Roberts, Julie London and Rory Calhoun. Robinson is Pete, who lives with his sister Ellen (Anderson) on a self-sufficient farm. They have a daughter they both adopted, Meg, who is now a teenager with a crush on Nath (McAllister) so she arranges for him to work for Pete. Nath is interested instead in the gorgeous Tibby (London), a tramp in training who flirts with a randy local (Calhoun). When Nath decides to go home via the woods, Pete becomes very agitated and tries to dissuade him. Meg and Nath decide to find out what's in those woods and start investigating. What they uncover is life-changing.

Directed by Delmer Daves, "The Red House" is one scary noir with lots of night scenes that take place in the woods and a haunting ending. The story is also an allegory for growing up and going out into the world, which Meg and Nath are determined to do. Nath urges his mother to marry her long-time boyfriend and go north with him because it's time he was independent, and Meg wants to be treated like a young woman - not only by a young man, but by the people she sees as her parents. The more Pete tells her not to go into the woods, the more she rebels.

There are several unsettling things in this film - the secret Pete is keeping, for one, as well as very unhealthy obsession with Meg. That is handled subtly for the most part, but is still there. That may seem an ambitious subject for 1947, but it is also an obvious part of the plot of "In This Our Life," as an example. We learn as the film continues that Ellen had a chance at having her own home and happiness with the local doctor, but because Pete would not allow her to take Meg with her, she never married and stayed on the farm. The fact that she wasn't willing to leave Meg alone with Pete is quite telling. As Pete becomes more unbalanced at the thought of anyone trespassing in the woods, we can understand her motives. Another interesting feature of the film is the blatant sexuality of Tibby as opposed to the naiveté of Meg.

All the performances are good, but Robinson is a standout. He could be convincing as both a villain and a lovesick fool, a great man or a coward. Here he slowly fleshes out his character from that of a nice, gentle man to one who is becoming unhinged to complete disintegration in a truly frightening performance. Judith Anderson, so menacing in "Rebecca" underplays beautifully here and is perfectly convincing as Pete's sister. It's a sign of a great actress when she can be at home in Shakespeare and as a farmer's sister. London is stunning and does well as a gal trying to hedge her bets. Roberts and McAllister are appropriately young and have the necessary naive quality.

The best way I can describe "The Red House" is to call it unsettling. The undertones and the end of the film are disturbing, and one can see the beginnings of the psychology and dark feelings that surfaced in film after World War II.

"There's a curse on those woods..."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 25 April 2007]

I had forgotten what a satisfying little thriller this was from watching it a couple of years ago. The story builds suspense in the first half by slowly revealing the mystery of it's title, with scene after scene adding dimension to what will eventually be revealed as Pete Morgan's fifteen year long nightmare. As Morgan, Edward G. Robinson brings some of the subtler aspects of his acting side to the story, at least in the early going when he's a warm and caring guardian to adopted daughter Meg. Later he dissolves into paranoia, until virtually reliving the events of that earlier time when he accidentally killed his lover, the basis for his forced life of seclusion. When you watch the film again, take note of the scene when Robinson's character lights the candle upon first entering the Red House, there's a great transformation shot that makes him fifteen years younger, erasing the creases in his forehead as he remembers the house 'just as it was'. That was just a great creative subtlety that worked amazingly well to establish Morgan's mental state.

The film also works for the excellent characterizations of Judith Anderson as Pete's devoted sister Ellen, and Allene Roberts as their adopted daughter Meg. Meg becomes involved in a romantic triangle of sorts when she begins to fall for Nath Storm (Lon McCallister), who in the early story is going steady with the local glamor girl Tibby Renton (Julie London). You know, if you take a look at London's film credits, she sure does show up in the oddest places, like a jungle woman in her very first picture, 1944's "Nabonga". Here, director Delmer Daves does his best to zoom in on repeated long glamor poses of both London and rival Roberts in close-ups that resemble screen tests. There's even a couple featuring Rory Calhoun's rugged good looks, even though he turns out to be a villain of the piece; an oddly well selected choice for the role he has.

Here's a puzzler - how did Nath know there was rifle in the closet? And still a bigger puzzler - How did Pete Morgan ever get away with it fifteen years ago? That was a point the film never adequately answers, even though it was mentioned that Meg's parents moved South and died in an accident to set up the adoption. Odd that no one from the town ever questioned their just disappearing and leaving a baby behind. But then again, the town seemed prone to rumor and half truths anyway, as established by the dinner scene when Nath was first hired by Morgan.

Others on this board have mentioned the intense musical score, and the harrowing night time scenes in the Oxhead Woods, all of which border the film on a horror piece as well as a mystery thriller. This one is well recommended to get your hands on, even better for one of those dark, stormy nights with lightning casting a dim glow while watching. You'll begin to believe Edgar G. Robinson when he states - '...you can never run away from the scream".

eerie and memorable

[secragt · 8/10 · 15 April 2003]

First, I saw this as a child and recall being absolutely mesmerized and terrified by the creepy music associated with the house. Upon seeing it again some months back, I was immediately brought back to childhood and felt the same strangled dread. Sometimes memories of things from youth don't hold up but in this case, RED HOUSE remains a bizarre and scary movie into adulthood.

Robinson's performance is very atypical but effective. He was a far more versatile actor than most people realize. As definitive as his fatcat gangster kingpin roles were in LITTLE CAESAR, KEY LARGO and the like, he was equally believable as victims and suckers, as in movies like SCARLET STREET.

It is surprising that the studio was able to slip some very sexual material by the censors into this movie; Robinson is a deeply troubled and surprisingly sympathetic "deviant" here and things are handled with relative frankness.

This isn't a perfect movie (some motivational problems in particular) and i didn't plan to comment on it, but i strongly disagree with the comments of another reviewer who dismissed Robinson so I wanted to briefly opine with my dissenting opinion. One final note: besides the highly chilling music, this movie features a very haunting ending that will stay with you. This is pretty twisted stuff given the era, and despite some datedness, it's certainly worth a look for those who like their noir Gothic and haunted.

Not knowing a secret will haunt you.

[michaelRokeefe · 7 September 2002]

Thrilling Film-Noir written and directed by Delmer Daves. A crippled farmer(Edward G. Robinson)living with his sister(Judith Anderson) and adopted daughter(Allene Roberts)is hard pressed to deal with a young man(Lon McCallister)that comes to help out with chores. The young man is a friend of the daughter, but has romantic feelings for the school "hottie" Julie London. Robinson becomes deeper obsessed with keeping everyone away from a mysterious red house hidden in the woods that surround his property. Not only is London very young at this time in her career, but so is Rory Calhoun who hunts the woods and discourages trespassers. This is a passionate and atmospheric mystery that is supported by the haunting music of Miklos Rozsa. I especially enjoyed the scene of McCallister trying to go through the woods in the hard driving rain storm with the creepy music background. If you get the chance to see this on TCM, AMC or PBS...don't pass it up.

Robinson and Rozsa Duo

[harry-76 · 7/10 · 5 July 2001]

This film-noir may look like a B-film, but it contains two powerful pieces of work, that of actor Edward G. Robinson and composer Miklos Rozsa.

A strange tale, "The Red House" benefits from one of Robinson's most flavorful performances, as a man harboring a dark secret past which returns to haunt him. Ably supporting Robinson is the strong Judith Anderson as the sister, the fine Lon McCallister as a callow but earnest youth, and the striking Rory Calhoun in one of his most impressive roles.

Directed in a somewhat standard fashion by Delmer Davis, interest is maintained by uniformly strong performances, and an extensive, full orchestral score by Miklos Rozsa. As in countless other films, Rozsa, inspired by Ravel (and the generic Debussy) weaves a wall-to-wall tapestry of psychological tension, further raising this enactment above its ordinary production design.

Devotees of Robinson can enjoy their favorite actor in his 53rd film, made at the peak of his powers. His unique film presence boasted a career of 99 films in 57 years, which was preceded by a 15-year stint on the New York stage. Robinson proved that one doesn't have to be unusually handsome to be a star, nor be relegated to minor character parts. Indeed, Robinson played leads in countless classics, with nary a weak performance. Few actors can make that claim.

The DVD transfer is not a restored print, and contains several stretches of poor audio and scratchy images. On a series called, "Hollywood Tough Guys," put out by Madacy Entertainment, one can still be grateful that "The Red House" is available, as respresentative of both Robinson's and Rozsa's unique contribution to film.

Down By The Old Mill Stream, A Terrible Secret

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 14 October 2007]

I'm not sure why this film was entitled The Red House. Not being shot in color the title will mean absolutely nothing to the viewer, especially the viewer of today who won't be dealing with a recent best selling book to compare it with.

The house of whatever color is located by a mill and it contains a terrible secret from the past of Edward G. Robinson. Robinson and his sister have raised young Allene Roberts on their farm since she was an infant and have been like parents to her. They have one standing rule at their place. Under no circumstances is she or anyone else to go to a certain stretch of woods and to enforce that rule Robinson has hired Rory Calhoun to keep trespassers off.

Of course you tell teenagers like Roberts, Lon McCallister, and Julie London not to do something or go somewhere and you know very well what's going to happen in movies and in real life. Their curiosity unravels both a terrible secret from the past and it also unravels Robinson himself who we see degenerate from a loving father figure to a terrible figure of fright and horror.

Robinson of course is his usual outstanding, but it was refreshing to see Judith Anderson for once not playing a baddie. No Mrs. Danvers here or a blackmailing wet nurse like The Ten Commandments. She's a kind loving sister who gave up her own chance at happiness and a marriage to live with Robinson and raise Roberts.

Allene Roberts and Lon McCallister are a pair of nice young people, but they don't stand up against Rory Calhoun and Julie London. Calhoun's part is mysterious and ill defined, but he has plenty of animal magnetism exploding all over the screen and this was his first big break. As for London, I'm still scratching my head why McCallister chooses Roberts when he's got Julie London giving him the come hither glance.

The Red House is a fine thriller a bit dated, but still entertaining. By the way it also has a fine Mikos Rosza score as well.

Odd mix of Southern Gothic and western adventure

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 29 March 2017]

THE RED HOUSE is an odd little mix of Southern Gothic and western adventure, featuring a young cast tangling with a kooky old-timer. The latter role is played by familiar gangster movie star Edward G. Robinson in a lip-licking performance that makes the whole movie; to say that he's hiding some pretty dark secrets is an understatement, and the whole story hinges on his highly entertaining performance.

The rest of the film isn't quite in Robinson's lead, although it's watchable enough. The fresh and likable Lon McCallister falls for the pretty Allene Roberts, who is Robinson's likable daughter. An air of mystery hangs over Robinson's estate, in particular the titular dwelling which nobody is allowed to go near. The mystery, as it transpires, is quite straightforward, although there are shades of REBECCA and GASLIGHT in the build-up. Watch out for future western star Rory Calhoun as a thuggish type who prowls the woods with his rifle.

a very peculiar film that is worth seeing even though it is RARELY seen today

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 8 October 2006]

This is one of the toughest Edward G. Robinson films to review, as it is so different and strange when compared to his other films. Instead of the familiar gangster film, Robinson plays a farmer in this mystery. It doesn't seem like a mystery movie initially, but you soon start to sense SOMETHING just isn't right on this lovely and isolated farm. It all begins to be revealed when a high school student comes to work part-time on the farm. He's a classmate of Robinson's adopted daughter and things seem to be working out fine until this young man wants to take a shortcut across the property. Inexplicably, Robinson STRONGLY warns him not to--saying the woods are very dangerous at night. And because of his vehemence, his daughter becomes fascinated with unraveling the whole mystery behind the woods. Instead of trying to further explain the rest of the film, let's just suffice to say that there are lots of twists and turns and even death awaiting! The total package is very good--too good to just have this film sit on shelves like it has over the years. And while not all the plot elements are completely satisfactory (Robinson at times just seemed a little too goofy and crazed and the final resolution was not the best answer to a mystery I have ever seen on film), the movie is worth seeing--particularly for fans of Robinson and films from Hollywood's Golden Age.

Creepy, Disturbing and Off-beat Noir - Not for Kids!

[mstomaso · 8/10 · 9 March 2008]

Delmer Daves's The Red House is a gem! But it's not a film for the kids - the film deals with somewhat perverse adult themes in a very psychologically, if not explicitly, realistic manner. The great Edward G. Robinson plays Pete Morgan, a reclusive older gentleman living with his sister (Judith Anderson) and an adopted teenage daughter, Meg (Allene Roberts). Most of the story revolves around Meg's developing romance with Nath (Lon McAllister) - a smart and decent young man who comes to work for Pete. Nath's girlfriend - kind of an erstwhile femme fatale - is played by the lovely Julie London, and it is no surprise to find that as Nath's attention turns to Meg, her attention turns to bad boy "Teller" (Rory Calhoun).

Underneath all the typically teenage romantic dynamics lies several terrible secrets and possibly, something supernatural. All of this will culminate in revealing the secret of a long-forgotten Red House in the woods behind Pete's house.

The acting is excellent. The younger members of the cast are remarkably attractive, an the cinematographer used this to great advantage. Calhoun and London occasionally falter into formulaic acting, but McAllister and Roberts are always exactly where they need to be, and Robinson turns in a typically brilliant performance. Roberts, amazingly, was 18 years old and acting in her first film when she turned in this fantastic, mature performance.

Daves paces the film very nicely. There are relatively few wasted seconds, and the build-up to the climax, and even the epilogue, are barely even noticeable as you are swept away by the increasingly convoluted and disturbing story-line. Lighting, a trademark of Daves and noir in general, is used perfectly in this very nicely shot dark contrast-oriented film. The key to the success of this film, however, is the misdirection of audience sympathies - which is all I will say about the script - to avoid a spoiler.

NOTE: Be willing to spend a few extra dollars to get a good print of this film. Some of the less expensive versions have very poor sound quality - almost unlistenable.

Highly recommended for Robinson fans and non-graphic horror fans. Recommended for noir fans. Not recommended for kids.

House of Horrors

[kapelusznik18 · 7/10 · 5 August 2017]

***SPOILERS*** Tough guy Edward G. Robinson as farmer Pete Morgan goes psycho here much like he did as "Wolf" Larson in the movie "The Sea Wolf" as he tries to keep of what the mysterious and creepy Red House-That's on his property-has hidden in it. All hell breaks loose when he hires his step daughter Meg's, Allene Roberts, boyfriend Nath Storm,Lon McCallister, as a farm hand who get's not only very romantic with Meg, whom control freak Morgan wants to keep all to himself, but insists to check out the area where the red house is located in.

It soon becomes apparent that both Morgan and his live in sister Ellen, Judith Anderson, have a skeleton hidden in the closet that they've been hiding from the world for at least 15 years and in Pete Morgan's case is more then willing to kill to keep that secret from seeing the light of day. There's also both the sexy and hot to trot Tibby, Julie London, who's got the hots from the boyishly handsome Nath and the devilishly handsome local sh*t kicker Teller played by an Elvis Presley looking, some seven years before anyone ever knew of him, Rory Calhoun whom Morgan uses to terrorize anyone from finding out the secret about his red house that he keeps hidden deep in the woods.

****SPOILERS**** You can see that Morgan is not all there to begin with but as the secret of the red house and what's hidden in it starts to leak out, due to the efforts of both Meg & Nath, that he completely cracks up.From at first being a kind and gentle soul who wouldn't hurt a fly to a crazed out of control lunatic going so far as murdering his own sister Ellen. It was Ellen who was about to go to the local authorities and have him committed before he did any more damage. The mentally deranged Morgan even attempts to rape, in thinking that she's his former girlfriend, and murder Meg for walking out on him by getting overly friendly with Nath whom he also attempts to murder. With the secret of the red house now known all over the papers and news outlets-radio & TV- and the police about to take him into custody Morgan makes a dash for it in his jalopy of a pick-up truck and ends up drowning himself. That as he burst into the red house's ice house-with the ice melting in the summer heat- where all the evidence of his many crimes-of some 15 years ago-are hidden.

Teen Noir is Too Slow

[psych-shawn · 3/10 · 11 August 2017]

"The Red House" tries very hard to combine two genres with little success. On one level it's a typical teen romance with all the usual lover's quarrels and petty jealousies. On the other hand it's a psychological suspense a la "Rebecca" or "Spellbound" but lacking the genius of Hitchcock.

There's not enough red herrings or other diversions for a good suspense movie. The film moves so slowly, you can't help but guess the "secret" long before the end. The teen romance angle had more potential with Rory Calhoun, Allene Roberts and a very sultry Julie London in the cast, but Calhoun and London don't get enough screen time to keep you interested.

Although I usually love Edward G. Robinson, the lack of real suspense in the film drained his performance of much of it's power. Judith Anderson does a good job playing against type, but it's not enough to save this turgid cluster gaggle.

60 Years Later It Still Stands Tall.

[vitaleralphlouis · 9/10 · 21 November 2007]

Until last night I hadn't seen this movie since being 9 years old in 1947. At that time it scared the hell out of me --- particular the ice house scene, etched forever in memory -- although THE RED HOUSE is not a horror movie. Looking at it again after 60 years it's still a winner.

However scary there's almost no violence, but instead it relies on the natural fright of living near a forbidden woods and the haunted RED HOUSE. The evil lies entirely in the mind of the old man (Edward G. Robinson) and the guilt from some long-ago crime. Lon McAlister plays the young man who enters the scene and other youngsters are played by Rory Calhoun and Julie London who later became stars.

It's easy to understand how the dark, forbidden woods affected me as a young child; but I doubt it would be so well received by today's kids. For one thing, they don't play outside much, let alone exploring in a dark woods or haunted house. Secondly, the woods was most likely torn down. My own woods --- circa 1947 -- had a stream, a swamp, a genuine haunted house, a pig's skeleton, and a road leading to nowhere. Today it's all gone; replaced by Holy Cross Hospital, part of the Washington Beltway, 40 new houses --- paradise swallowed up by progress. Nothing remains for today's kids.

The Red House is now in DVD. It's good; see it!

Absorbing and worthy suspense film about entangled relationships and dark secrets

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 27 May 2014]

An old man (Edward G Robinson) and his sister (Judith Anderson) are concealing a terrible secret from their adopted teen daughter called Meg (Allene Roberts) . The fostered girl is attracted to a young man of the village called Nath Storm (Lon McCallister) . Meg starts falling in love with Nath , but his sweetheart Tibby (Julie London) has other plans for him . She then brings home the suitor and the old man attempts to keep everyone out of mysterious red house located on his ownership . The elderly farmer unsuccessfully attempts to bury the horrid past . Curious , Meg and Nath ignore dangers and begin exploring beyond the following warning : ¨No trespass at your own risk¨ . Meantime , they all get closer to real risk and the horrible truth about the property . At the end , the terrible secret concerning a hidden abandon farmhouse and located deep in the woods bursts out , as leaving a grand ending the resolution of the mystery .

This first-rate but slow-paced picture draws its riveting tale and power from the interaction of finely drawn roles as well as drama and emotion . Rare film Noir about troubled relationships , being based on the novel by Agnew Chamberlain and screen-written by the same director and by notorious and black-listed Albert Maltz . It has a good realization , an original script , haunting atmosphere , intriguing events ; for that reason madness and murder prevail . Exciting as well as strange film , possessing a mysterious and fascinating blend of rural serenity , baroque suspense in which especially stands out the magnificent musical score by Miklos Rozsa . This is pure cinema from the first to the last shot, where there's nothing left and each image has its sense and meaning . Very good acting by Edward G. Robinson on the character of an old crippled farmer "Pete Morgan", who lives with his sister in a secluded farm in front of an eerie forest . He does an excellent job and proves once again he is one of the best players in the history of cinema . Support cast is frankly well such as Judith Anderson of Rebeca as Ellen Morgan , Rory Calhoun as Teller , Allene Roberts as Meg , Julie London as Tibby , Ona Munson as Mrs. Storm , Pat Flatherty as cop and Harry Shannon . Dark cinematography plenty of lights and shades by Bert Glennon . The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely and usually badly edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duplicated from second- or third-generation or more copies of the film.

The motion picture produced in low budget by Sol Lesser was well directed by Delmer Daves . Nice work by Delmer Daves in demonstrating his skill at all areas : as technical , using all kind of resources for illustrating the interesting as well as dramatic story with an engaging screenplay , adding great actors filmmaking and enjoyable narration . Daves was a Western expert , including his characteristic use of landscape , for the reason he lived a long time of his boyhood with the Navajo and Hopi Indian tribes as he realized the notorious trail-blazing ¨Broken arrow¨ the first movie for many years not treat the Indians as cannon-fodder for the cavalry , which made the picture unpopular in some quarters . He went on directing the suspenseful ¨3:10 to Yuma¨, other pro-Indian as ¨The last wagon¨ and about Modoc Indians as ¨Drum beat¨ , the Shakespearian style of ¨Jubal¨ , ¨Return of the Texan¨ and ¨Cowboy¨ which a fairly spectacle about a long cattle drive . From 1959 Delmer Daves becomes embroiled for the remainder of his career with teenage love epics and very popular at the Box-office as ¨A summer place¨, ¨Parrish¨, ¨Susan Slade¨, and ¨Rome adventure¨, among others . And of course , he realized Noir films such as ¨Dark passage¨ and this ¨The red House¨ that is absolutely recommended .

Not for the impatient.

[DigitalRevenantX7 · 4/10 · 2 May 2012]

Plot Synopsis: In rural America, Nathan Storm is persuaded by his friend Meg to work on her family's farm, which is run by Meg's uncle Pete & his sister Ellen. Pete agrees on having Nathan work there, but insists that he is never to enter the woods adjoining the property. Nathan secretly tries to enter, but is scared off by a stranger armed with a rifle. He hears of an old red house which is supposed to be in the woods & is reputed to be haunted. Nathan makes every attempt to enter the woods in order to find the red house.

Film Review: The Red House is a minor psychological thriller from the mid-1950s, starring Edward G. Robinson (who rose to fame with the likes of LITTLE CAESAR). For the uninitiated, Robinson (born Emmanuel Goldenberg) was an actor who became something of a legend for playing sinister gangsters throughout most of the 1930s. Following his career-defining role in Little Caesar, Robinson spent the next decade making up for it by playing various good-natured characters. The Red House saw a melding of the two roles he was used to playing, with his portrayal of a farmer who has a dark side.

To be honest, despite Robinson's good acting, I wasn't much impressed with the film. The plot is simple but the script is melodramatic to say the least. Not to mention the fact that the film is so slow that it becomes a real chore to watch – if you are quite impatient, I'd recommend skipping this film. Delmer Daves takes his sweet time in getting to the point – only to defer it with muddled writing. There are also some plot points that are really unnecessary – the plot line involving Rory Calhoun & his attempts to buy a government bond with three-quarters-of-a-grand have no dramatic place here & could have been written out with no impact to the film.

Having said that, the film does have its moments, including a suitably macabre ending, the characters are well-drawn & the acting is very good. Only thing is that if the script was written with more care, the film would have been an enjoyable time-waster. As it stands, The Red House is just plain dramatically flat.

A sadly unknown film....

[L_CELINE · 15 September 2000]

I first heard of this film when Scorcesse mentioned it on his documentary, "A Journey Through American Cinema"...always wanting to see something new, I found a copy of it at work and took it home....WOW!!! This is one of the greatest low budget thriller/melodramas I have ever seen...definately up there with Jacque Tourner's "Cat People" and Edgar Ulmer's "Detour"...Daves conjures up a moltov cocktail of sexual frustration, psychological S&M, and pubescent curiosity that seems primed to explode at any minute, and the volatility of it all is what keeps you in suspense. Even if you do figure out the secret of the red house half way through (I did), the performances of everybody involved (especially Edward G Robinson) keeps your eyes glued to the screen from beginning all the way to the bitter and somewhat ironic end....if you ever run across it, please check it out....sadly, the prints that are available are a bit scratchy at best (which is what happens when a film is forgotten), but the film is an experience everybody should see for themselves.....

The Dark Secrets of Ox Head Wood

[seymourblack-1 · 7/10 · 13 December 2018]

The uneasy atmosphere that prevails throughout this creepy psychological thriller provides an early indication that although it's set in a peaceful rural environment and features seemingly conventional characters, "The Red House" is actually a story about dark secrets, complicated relationships and the kind of mental instability that's caused by years of living with extreme fear and overwhelming feelings of guilt. Director/Screenwriter Delmer Daves, who adapted George Agnew Chamberlain's novel for the screen, does a superb job of establishing the sombre mood and on-going sense of danger that make this movie both suspenseful and very compelling to watch.

Teenage schoolgirl Meg (Allene Roberts) who was adopted as a 2-year-old by reclusive farmer Pete Morgan (Edward G Robinson) and his sister Ellen (Judith Anderson), recognises that age and disability are making it increasingly difficult for Pete to run the farm on his own and persuades him to hire her High School friend Nath Storm (Lon McCallister) to help out with some of the evening chores. When Nath completes his jobs and decides to go home through the neighbouring wood, Pete becomes angry and warns him against the idea saying that the woods are filled with mysterious screams at night and even contain a haunted house. The strong-willed Nath takes no notice but after entering the woods soon becomes freaked out and returns to the farm. On a later occasion, he again attempts to go home through the woods but again returns to the farm after having been struck over the head by a heavy object.

The mysteries of Ox Head Wood become a source of fascination for Nath and Meg who together with Nath's girlfriend Tibby Rinton (Julie London) start to spend their Sundays exploring the area. This leads to numerous problems as Meg falls for Nath and she and Tibby both become jealous of each other. Pete, who had always doted on Meg becomes more uncomfortable with her obvious interest in Nath and even threatens her with a beating if she re-enters the wood and the whole situation quickly makes it untenable for Nath to carry on working at the farm. Furthermore, no-one else is aware that Pete has hired a young woodman called Teller (Rory Calhoun) to keep all trespassers out of the woods. He's a tough, handsome but not very bright young guy who, as well as adding to the romantic complications by getting involved with Tibby, displays poor judgement when using his gun and unintentionally causes injuries to both Ellen and Meg.

Despite all the problems they encounter, Nath and Meg's determination to uncover the secrets of Ox Head Wood and the haunted red house remain strong and eventually lead to Meg discovering the truth about her parents and the circumstances under which she was adopted by Pete and Ellen.

In a particularly memorable performance, Edward G Robinson skilfully captures the various facets of Pete Morgan's character and makes the numerous transitions he goes through seem entirely credible. Whether he's the kindly father-figure, the angry man who threatens anyone who doesn't obey his orders or the tormented, guilt-ridden and fearful guy who becomes mentally unstable, Robinson is never less than convincing.

Judith Anderson is a strong presence throughout as Pete's devoted sister who gave up her own chances of happiness in order to support and protect her brother and Allene Roberts, Julie London and Rory Calhoun stand out amongst the very talented supporting cast.

"The Red House" has an intriguing plot, boasts some great acting performances and is notable for its eerie atmosphere which is greatly enhanced by Miklos Rozsa's fine score and Bert Glennon's top class cinematography.

Creepy film noir admired by Martin Scorsese is a nice treat

[jem132 · 7/10 · 20 September 2008]

"The Red House" came to my attention when I watched Martin Scorsese's "A Personal Journey Through American Movies" documentary. The famous director described the film as a B movie gem, and it is quite fascinating. Edward G Robinson gives an excellent performance in the lead role as reclusive farmer Pete Morgan who lives with his strangely devoted spinster sister (Judith Anderson, very good in a sympathetic role)and sweet young adopted daughter, the very wholesome 17 year old Meg (Allene Roberts, who is a direct cross between Teresa Wright and Cathy O'Donnell). When Meg's high school crush Nath (nice but bland Lon McCallister) comes to do some after-school work, the dark secret of the "The Red House" is revealed, and Robinson's obsession with Meg, and a mysterious figure from the past, grows deeper.

This rises above it's B movie origins largely because of Robinson's performance, and the strange, unsettling motivations of his character. It's sort of Freudian and very creepy. There is an interesting sub-plot with a very young and pouty Julie London and Rory Calhoun having a rough-and-ready romance. Much of the directorial work by Delmer Daves is pretty standard stuff, though he does do a good shadowy night scene. Miklos Rosza's score is effective, but didn't we hear it the year before in "The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers"? It sounded very similar to me, and Rosza's scores unfortunately have a tendency to screech after a while. I watched this on a public domain DVD, and the print was pretty bad. It's worth rescuing from the domain, an interesting and worthy little noir feature.

more addendum on what has been said

[jaybob · 7/10 · 20 September 2002]

All the previous comments echo mine/ The print I have is one of the first I purchased way back when films first came available on tape. At the conclusion there is an interesting commentary on this New hobby of collecting films, They even give a phone number to call on collecting films, I will call tomorrow & see if the number is still in use. This film is part of the FILM CLASSIC series, & many of the prints are not as good as the current films; but THE RED HOUSE print is reasonably clean. The music by Miklos Roxsa (spelled wrong) is superb

& fits each scene perfectly. I wish I could say that about current music scores. The hero Lon Macallister, while never being the best actor comes accross very well. the main reason he did not make may more films was his very receding hairline which is quite noticeable.

Rating ***/4 82 points/100 IMBd 7

Don't Venture Into the Forest!

[Uriah43 · 7/10 · 17 September 2016]

"Meg" (Allene Roberts) is a teenage girl who lives on the edge of a dark and dreadful forest with a man named "Pete Morgan" (Edward G. Robinson) and his sister "Ellen Morgan" (Judith Anderson) who adopted her when she was 2 years old. As long as she can remember she was told not to venture into the forest. Then one day Pete hires a teenage boy named "Nath Storm" (Lon McCallister) to help with the chores on the farm which pleases Meg to no end even though Nath has a girlfriend named "Tibby" (Julie London) who keeps him focused solely on her. Unfortunately, one stormy night Nath decides to take a short-cut through the woods which greatly displeases Pete and begins a series of bad feelings between the two of them. The friction soon becomes even worse when Meg decides to disobey Pete's instructions and venture into the woods with Nath in search of a mysterious "Red House" which she is told is particularly horrendous. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an entertaining movie which was actually enhanced by the fact that it was filmed in black-and-white as it added a certain macabre feel to everything. It also helped that the sub-plots blended well together to form a cohesive story-line. That being said, I have rated the film accordingly. Above average.

Perfect for a stormy night!

[marxsarx · 8/10 · 7 March 2004]

This is my second time around commenting on this movie.

All I can say is wow! Whatever parts of this movie that seemed bizarre the first time I saw the move all came together the second time around and made sense.

The psychological drama works and the characters do give nuanced performances which I appreciated more the second time around. I adore the rural setting. The Red House is nothing short of an engrossing film with strong performances. Edward G. Robinson, Lon McAllister, Allene Roberts, Julie London, Rory Calhoun, Judith Anderson and Ona Munson are perfectly cast. Edward G. Robinson's and especially Judith Anderson's performances which seemed bizarre to me the first time came alive with depth and subtlety on a second viewing.

I agree with the folks who are saying this is a must see film. Watch it twice if your are like me and you need to in order to understand just how good it is! And I cannot stress enough how fine the Miklos Rosa score for The Red House is. This one is a keeper. If they make a restored DVD of this movie, I'll buy it (hint).

A Good Mystery Film

[Rainey-Dawn · 6/10 · 10 May 2016]

I had forgotten all about this film until I acquired it in the Dark Crimes 50-Pack Films Collection and watched it again. It's a pretty good mystery thriller. It is worth watching if you happen to run across the film. It is in fact a Dark Crime film.

A secret is being harbored about the red house in the woods by Pete Morgan (Edward G. Robinson). Pete adopted Meg for his daughter after her parents ran off and raised her with the help his sister Ellen. Pete has a wooden leg and his sister insisted he is in need of some help around the farm. Pete finally agrees and hires Meg's friend Nath to help but tells Nath and reminds Meg NOT go to into the "haunted woods" where the red house stands. Nath and Meg are very curious and ends up trying to solve the mystery of the red house.

Unnecessary to the core of the story is Tibby, Nath's girlfriend - their part of the story is really more of a time filler than anything.

Overall a good little mystery film.

6/10

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks . . .

[oscaralbert · 5/10 · 14 March 2015]

. . . especially when he's down to his last leg, as "Pete" (Edward G. Robinson) is in THE RED HOUSE. This low-budget mess resulted from someone's lame idea that if you threw several unknown young actors together with "Mrs. Danvers" (REBECCA's Judith Anderson) and DR. CLITTERHOUSE himself (Robinson) you might get a passable suspense and\or horror flick. Unfortunately, the trashy script, based upon a magazine serial, plays like Eugene O'Neill Lite. Instead of DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS, we're treated to WAILING IN THE WOODS. Pete is mad as a hatter, but he lives in some alternate universe in which everyone else exists as his zombie-like enablers, whose sole purpose is to carry out his crazy commands. From sister Ellen to ward Meg, from gamekeeper Teller to handy boy Nath, from Nympho Tibby to Doc Byrne, everyone lets Peg-leg Pete get away with murder. To add insult to injury, this flop is filmed in grainy black & white. Truth-in-advertising dictates that it be retitled THE GRAY HOUSE.

Burning Down the House

[wes-connors · 8/10 · 27 November 2010]

On the bus ride home, handsome "Union High School" senior Lon McCallister (as Nath Storm) cozies up to sexy girlfriend Julie London (as Tibby Rinton) while cute Allene Roberts (as Meg Morgan) looks forlorn - obviously, Ms. Roberts would like Mr. McCallister to be her boyfriend. Telling McCallister that her wooden-legged foster father Edward G. Robinson (as Pete Morgan) needs help on the farm, Roberts invites him over to apply for an after-school job. McCallister accepts.

After joining Mr. Robinson and his spinster sister Judith Anderson (as Ellen) for dinner, McCallister wants to take a short cut home. Robinson warns him "Ox Head Woods" is dangerous, forbidden, and likely haunted by screams. McCallister skeptically decides to take his chances, but is frightened into taking the recommended route home. Despite her increasingly spooky foster father, McCallister grows closer to Roberts. Soon, they are searching the forest for a lost house of secrets…

With its effectively ascending Gothic atmosphere, and a fine cast, "The Red House" has everything it takes to be considered a minor classic, at least. Perhaps its appreciation will someday surface. With hints of incest, Robinson is excellent; he never seemed to get the roles or recognition needed to reach the deserved level of esteem awarded contemporaries. It's nice to hear McCallister's age explained; due to helping their parents at work, "boys graduate a little older than those in the city."

McCallister holds his own against is legendary co-star, as do the aforementioned players. Also making a good impression is Rory Calhoun (as Teller), a trigger-happy high school dropout hired by Robinson to ward off trespassers. Director Delmer Daves and photographer Bert Glennon take advantage of the eerily breezy locations. Making producer Sol Lesser proud, Miklos Rozsa's soundtrack music is a perfect accompaniment and the editing by Merrill White should also be noted.

******** The Red House (3/16/47) Delmer Daves ~ Edward G. Robinson, Lon McCallister, Judith Anderson, Rory Calhoun

Taut Little Thriller Despite Corny Teen Love Triangle Sub-Plot

[MovieMarauder · 7/10 · 14 October 2004]

Gee, I started watching this film knowing its reputation as a gripping psychological melodrama, but watching the first five minutes of it, it's almost possible to confuse it with one of those 8mm educational film reels that they show you in grade school, with a bunch of clean-cut, non-threatening white teenagers in the 1940's, bright eyed and bushy tailed as you please, complete with Brylcreemed crew-cuts and high school letterman sweaters. Everything's just as optimistic, keen, and neato as you could imagine, right down to the stark white photography, leaving the viewer to wonder, perhaps for just a moment, "did I rent the right movie?!"

Ah, but don't fret, my pretty. We soon meet the incomparable E.G. Robinson and the home-viewer can rest assured that he/she will be treated to a fine piece of cinema. A previous reviewer already mentioned how the genuinely creepy and excellently sinister background score emerges just a few minutes into the picture to begin its gradual segue into the true plot, the one we all came to see. Apparently, there's a lot more to the E.G. Robinson character than really meets the eye. He does an extraordinary job in this, and he's probably the only reason that I've scored the film so highly. His performance reminds me a great deal of the psychotic sea-captain that he played in "The Sea Wolf", only, despite his character's flaws in this film, you can still sympathize with him, as he basically means well, and is more haunted than psychotic.

"The Red House" is competently directed by Delmer Daves, a director whose work I usually love, but I have to say, this is not Delmer Daves at his best. I can't even believe, watching this film, that it's the same director who brought us "Dark Passage." It may have turned out to be a lot more effective as a thriller if a better suited director had been assigned to the project. For instance, can you imagine what Jacques Torneau or Val Lewton could have done with it?! Oh well...

My only other gripe with this film is that it features some very hokey, pointless, and mostly unnecessary sub-plots featuring a bunch of highschoolers that I just don't care about. This may be the only thing keeping "The Red House" from being an honest-to-goodness film noir! Too many dang teenagers! They're annoying! I want my noir characters to be gruff, hard-bitten, old, and crusty. For example, if Naith had been played by Robert Mitchum, complete with a cigarette dangling from his lip, broad-brimmed fedora and five 'o' clock shadow, looking like he had just rolled out of bed with a nasty hangover all through the film, it would have been just dandy. Instead, we get some teenage dork in a letterman sweater who can't act his way out of a paper bag. An interesting note, however, is that the role of Tibby, the hot-blooded dame who competes with Meg for Naith's affections, is played by none other than Julie London, who, a few years later, would become known not as a famous actress, but as a very successful and legendary jazz singer.

All in all, "The Red House" is a pretty good little thriller, and a darn good choice for some late-night viewing. The atmosphere is always there, and the tension builds very subtly, thanks in large part to the REALLY great score. E.G. is fantastic, as he is in everything, and he really saves this film from being just another mediocre teen "haunted house" story. I really can't see this as a "Film-Noir", as it's usually categorized, but it definitely has all of the right elements. My rating: 7/10

Creepy and unpleasant tale of farmer's dark secret

[Turfseer · 4/10 · 1 June 2023]

Delmer Daves, a renowned director, had his fair share of successes. However, in my opinion, "The Red House" falls short of his usual standards.

The film's narrative takes place in a contemporary (1947) rural setting, which is somewhat unusual. Edward G. Robinson portrays Pete Morgan, a middle-aged, one-legged farmer who hires high school student Nath Storm (played by 23-year-old Lon McCallister) to assist him on the farm. Pete's adopted daughter Meg (Alene Roberts), who attends school with Nath, convinces her adoptive father to offer him the job. Pete's sister Ellen (Judith Anderson) also resides on the farm.

Throughout the film, Pete constantly warns Nath about entering the woods on the outskirts of his property. It becomes evident that the woods harbor a dark secret that Pete desperately wants to keep hidden.

I found Nath's decision to disregard Pete's warnings and venture into the woods at night quite unbelievable. After all, Nath has just been hired by Pete and risking his chances of continued employment seems senseless. The explanation given is that Nath is afraid of being seen as a coward.

The film also includes a romantic subplot involving Meg's rival, the sultry and seductive Tibby Rinton (played by the famed vocalist Julie London). Initially, Nath is involved with Tibby, but his affections shift towards Meg, who is more virtuous and slightly rebellious.

Rory Calhoun portrays Teller, an eccentric character assigned with the task of preventing anyone from discovering Pete's dark secret by patrolling his property. On three occasions, Teller attempts to scare off three of the main characters: Nath, Meg, and Ellen. He knocks Nath unconscious, fires his rifle to frighten Meg, causing her to break her leg while trying to escape, and inadvertently kills Ellen while trying to frighten her with a series of rifle shots.

I'm uncertain why Teller requests Tibby to purchase a $1500 savings bond for him using his own money. Eventually, Tibby leaves Nath, but her plan to run away with Teller is foiled when he is arrested by the police.

The melodrama escalates when, prior to her demise, Ellen reveals that Pete murdered the husband of a woman he had been involved with many years ago. It doesn't take long for me to deduce that Meg is Pete's biological daughter from the affair.

The only surprise comes when we discover that Pete also strangled the woman he had fallen in love with. It's puzzling why the disappearances of Pete's victims were never solved. Considering his relationship with the woman, it wouldn't have been too challenging for the police to make the connection.

Furthermore, why did Ellen remain silent about the murders for all those years? It's highly unlikely that mere familial obligation was the sole reason.

Pete's pathetic and disturbing behavior reaches its climax when he mistakes Meg for her biological mother and attempts to strangle her as well. Thankfully, she is rescued just in time by guess who. Pete's inevitable punishment arrives in the form of drowning, as he commits suicide by driving his pickup truck into the pond of water beneath a flooded icehouse.

I didn't buy into this sordid soap opera, and I advise against investing your time in it as well.